Repubblika is concerned by reports that the Court has revoked garnishee orders imposed on Kasco Holdings and Josette Schembri Vella after finding that the legal deadlines for their renewal had expired.
This is yet another episode that adds to the growing perception that the Maltese state either lacks the capacity or lacks the will to see the fight against corruption through to its conclusion when it reaches the highest levels of power.
For many years, the public has heard serious allegations of corruption, money laundering, and abuse of power involving individuals who stood at the heart of Joseph Muscat’s administration. Magisterial inquiries, investigative journalism, and criminal proceedings have produced a substantial body of evidence showing how state institutions were used for the private benefit of those in power. Yet despite all this, the country still has not seen convincing proof that its institutions are capable of delivering justice equally for everyone.
Case after case appears to become lost in delay, procedural complexity, or failures that should not occur in a system genuinely committed to justice. Each such episode further undermines public confidence that the institutions are truly determined to combat corruption when it involves individuals who were, or still are, close to political power.
These developments inevitably raise suspicions that the influence Keith Schembri once exercised over institutions has never diminished and that the culture of impunity built around him continues to leave its mark. Despite years of investigations, proceedings, and promises, we have seen far too few consequences for those who stood at the centre of some of the most serious corruption scandals in Malta’s recent history.
Repubblika does not merely regret that persons suspected of serious crimes continue to avoid the consequences of their actions. The greatest loss is a national one. Our country has yet to find the courage to confront the reality that it was robbed and betrayed by individuals entrusted with its leadership. Without genuine accountability, there can be no closure to this chapter, and without closure the wound remains open.
When institutions fail to apply the law effectively against the most powerful individuals, the message sent to society is a dangerous one: that there exists a class of people who can break the law without fear of consequences. This further erodes confidence in the justice system, the police, the prosecution service, and the country’s democratic governance.
The damage is not limited to the fact that individuals allegedly responsible for serious crimes continue to evade consequences. The damage also lies in citizens losing faith that institutions can protect them. When the state appears unable or unwilling to enforce the law against those who hold or once held power, it sends a signal of guaranteed impunity to anyone who sees politics and public administration as a vehicle for personal enrichment.
Repubblika reiterates that the fight against corruption cannot be confined to rhetoric, strategies, or political declarations. It requires effective investigations, competent prosecutions, and judgments delivered within a reasonable time. Until that happens, the culture of impunity that has caused so much harm to our country will continue to grow stronger, and our democracy will continue to pay the price.